Beaumont man sentenced in death of Nederland teen

By Manuella Libardi

Updated 5:17 pm, Friday, September 11, 2015

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Rockline Kennedy, 65

Rockline Kennedy, 65

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Kristin Paris, 18

Kristin Paris, 18

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A message written with shoe polish on a truck outside the funeral services for Kristin Paris who was killed from injuries received in a January car wreck. Rockline Kennedy has been charged with intoxication manslaughter from the wreck where he was driving the wrong in direction on Interstate 10.
Photo taken Tuesday, February 03, 2015
Guiseppe Barranco/The Enterprise less

A message written with shoe polish on a truck outside the funeral services for Kristin Paris who was killed from injuries received in a January car wreck. Rockline Kennedy has been charged with intoxication ... more

Photo: Guiseppe Barranco, Photo Editor

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Rockline Kennedy, 65

Rockline Kennedy, 65

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Kristin Paris, 18

Kristin Paris, 18

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A message written with shoe polish on a truck outside the funeral services for Kristin Paris who was killed from injuries received in a January car wreck. Rockline Kennedy has been charged with intoxication manslaughter from the wreck where he was driving the wrong in direction on Interstate 10.
Photo taken Tuesday, February 03, 2015
Guiseppe Barranco/The Enterprise less

A message written with shoe polish on a truck outside the funeral services for Kristin Paris who was killed from injuries received in a January car wreck. Rockline Kennedy has been charged with intoxication ... more

Photo: Guiseppe Barranco, Photo Editor

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Guests during the funeral services for Kristin Paris who was killed from injuries received in a January car wreck. Rockline Kennedy has been charged with intoxication manslaughter from the wreck where he was driving the wrong in direction on Interstate 10.
Photo taken Tuesday, February 03, 2015
Guiseppe Barranco/The Enterprise less

Guests during the funeral services for Kristin Paris who was killed from injuries received in a January car wreck. Rockline Kennedy has been charged with intoxication manslaughter from the wreck where he was ... more

Photo: Guiseppe Barranco, Photo Editor

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Beaumont man sentenced in death of Nederland teen

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After receiving an 18-year prison sentence for causing the January crash that killed a Nederland teenager, Rockline Kennedy looked the girl's father in the eyes and mumbled, "I'm sorry."

Daniel Paris told Kennedy, "I won't hear this crap."

A Jefferson County jury of five women and seven men sentenced Kennedy on Friday to 18 years in prison and a $10,000 fine in the death of 18-year-old Kristin Paris on Jan. 26.

The jury could have given him a maximum sentence of 20 years.

Kennedy, 65, will be eligible for parole in nine years.

Kennedy pleaded guilty Tuesday to one count of intoxication manslaughter. He was driving the wrong way on Interstate 10 near Ford Park on Jan. 26 when his pick-up crashed head-on into Paris' small car.

Kennedy's blood alcohol level after the crash was 0.291, more than three times the legal limit, according to court testimony.

Daniel Paris told the jury and those seated in the galley Friday morning that he didn't write out his victim impact statement because no words could describe his loss. Instead, he stared at Kennedy and told him he'd never forgive him for taking his only daughter.

"If it wasn't for all these officers in here today, me and you wouldn't be talking," Paris said. Kennedy responded by lowering his head.

Paris said he hasn't slept in the almost eight months since the crash.

Kristin's mom, Beverly Paris, told jurors on Thursday that Kristin was on her way to Crosby to babysit her cousins when she was killed.

Kennedy was driving home from the now-closed strip club Dream Street, which he owns, when he attempted to turn around on the interstate after missing his exit. He was driving eastbound on the westbound lanes.

Kennedy's friends on Thursday described him as a good man who became depressed after his brother died and turned to alcohol for comfort.

Beverly Paris told Kennedy during her victim impact statement on Friday that losing his brother did not justify his reckless behavior.

"Losing a daughter on the verge of adulthood is like losing your best friend," she said. "Her bedroom is untouched. I have to walk in the house like nothing happened, but my whole world is shattered."

Kristin was also going through a hard time after being bullied at school, according to Laura Pontiff, the girls' aunt.

"She didn't turn to alcohol to ease her pain," said Pontiff. "She turned to her family."